The first ECW show sans Paul Heyman emanates from Charleston, South Carolina. Since this was taped Monday night, I wonder if Heyman stays on camera. We shall see.

A quick recap of Bobby Lashley's ECW title win at December To Dismember is shown. Paul Heyman (there's your answer) is then shown cutting a promo post-December To Dismember when, with alligator tears streaming down his face, Heyman says that it took a 280-pound man with a weapon to take the ECW title from his friend, The Big Show. He then invokes Show's rematch clause for tonight.

Match # 1 -- Rob Van Dam & CM Punk vs. Test & Hardcore Holly

RVD grabs the mic and says what happened to Sabu on Sunday was a bunch of crap. He then dedicates this match to Sabu. This match is interesting in that one of the partners eliminated the other from the Extreme Elimination Chamber on Sunday. To refresh, RVD pinned Punk and Test eliminated Holly.

Joey Styles mentions the Heyman dismissal prior to the match, but doesn't elaborate at all. Van Dam and Holly start the match and RVD hits a split-legged moonsault early. Van Dam ends up on the floor and Test pounds away before tossing him back inside. RVD gets the hot tag to Punk and he dominates Holly, locking him in the Anaconda Vice. Just as Holly appears ready to tap, Heyman's security jumps RVD.

Winners via DQ: Rob Van Dam & CM Punk

Sabu comes in out of nowhere and hits the goons with a chair. Punk then locks one of the Bashams in the Vice before RVD hits the Five Star Frog Splash and Sabu nails a top rope Arabian Facebuster. The three pose in the ring and Styles and Tazz say Sabu suffered a separated shoulder and a concussion last night. Great, but how???

Back from a break, Daivari is in the ring blabbing away in Arabic. Then in English, he challenges Tommy Dreamer to a rematch from Sunday. Dreamer getting chokeslam power bombed by The Great Khali on the stage is then aired several more times.

Match # 2 -- Tommy Dreamer vs. Daivari

Dreamer cmes down with his left arm taped and limping heavily. Khali isn't seconding Daivari. Dreamer reverses Daivari's spike DDT and nails his own DDT for the quick three.

Winner via pinfall: Tommy Dreamer

Khali walks down to the ring and attacks Dreamer. Daivari throws a chair in the ring and Dreamer takes a chokeslam power bomb on the chair from the big man who's more concerned with getting his hair out of his face than anything.

Big Show is in the back. He says Lashley isn't the champion because it took five guys to beat him. He then says no one can beat him one-on-one. Basically, this sets up Lashley winning later on. Right?

Match # 3 -- Kelly Kelly vs. Ariel w/Kevin Thorn

Kelly comes down looking very distraught and sleep-deprived. Referee Mickey Henson ejects Thorn before the match for intimidating Kelly. Ho-hum. Ariel beats the stew out of Kelly before Kelly surprises with a schoolboy for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Kelly Kelly

Mike Knox enters the ring in a suit and with a bouquet of flowers. He gets down on one knee and begs for forgiveness. Kelly reaches out her hand and Knox stands up and says he's sorry... for taking so long to dump her. He then throws the roses at Kelly before giving her his downward spiral-like finisher. Tazz calls Knox a "rotten bastard" and comes in to help out the blonde bombshell. Knox leaves and there is no altercation. Bummer.

See No Evil is then shoved down our throats again. Read last week's ECW recap; I'll get the DVD when it's on the clearance rack some place.

Match # 4 -- ECW World Title Match -- Bobby Lashley vs. The Big Show

Lashley looks great with the ECW belt. Good to see the kid get a push, if you call being ECW champ getting a push.

Show controls the early part of the match, but looks to tire at about the three-minute mark and locks the champ-een in a bear hug. Lashley fights out and goes for a slam, but Show crashes down for a two count. Then we go to a commercial.

During the break, Show throws Lashley into the ringpost on the floor and powerslams him in the ring, continuing to work on Lashley's back. Lashley rallies for a shoulder tackle, but goes for another and runs into a clothesline. Show is moving VERY slow in this match. Another rest hold as Show puts Lashley in an abdominal stretch. You read that right. No typo.

Lashley hits a shoulder block from the top and then fells Show with three clotheslines. Lashley lines up the ex-champ for a spear, but runs into a chokeslam. Lashley kicks out at 2 1/2. The champ then gets Show up for what looked like a powerslam attempt and dropped Show awkwardly. Seconds later, Lashley gets Show up again, barely, slams the Giant and gets the victory.

Winner via pinfall: Bobby Lashley

Show is motionless (from a freakin' BODYSLAM?) and Lashley celebrates his first successful title defense.

PROGRAM NOTE

: ECW is on next Saturday, Dec. 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET., so no Tuesday show next week.